Texas death row inmate commits suicide hours before execution News
Texas death row inmate commits suicide hours before execution

[JURIST] Michael Dewayne Johnson, a death row inmate in Texas, committed suicide Thursday, 15-hours before he was scheduled to die by lethal injection [JURIST news archive]. Johnson was convicted of murdering a gas station attendant in 1995, but maintained that he was only a companion to the shooter. Johnson's companion was released from prison after serving an eight-year term in exchange for testifying against his friend.

Johnson became the seventh death row [JURIST news archive] inmate in Texas to commit suicide since 1974. His appeal was rejected by the US Supreme Court last week and he was scheduled to be the state's 22nd execution this year. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emporer

On December 25, 800 A.D., Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in Rome, Italy. During his lifetime, Charlemagne united most of Western Europe for the first time since the fall of the Western Roman Empire. He is credited with spreading the rule of law throughout his dominions as well as starting the French and German monarchies.

President Andrew Johnson pardoned Confederates

On December 25, 1868, President Andrew Johnson granted an unconditional pardon to all who had been involved in "insurrection or rebellion" during the US Civil War.